Tension measuring device

Abstract

A tension measuring device include a first container in which a cell structure is disposed and which is charged with a culture medium so that the cell structure is immersed therein; a second container in which a medical agent to be given to the inside of the first container is injected; a first tube which links the first container and the second container liquidtightly; and a pump which is disposed over the first tube and causes liquid to flow into the first container from the second container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tension measuring device, comprising:
 a holder that holds a cell structure including muscle cells; 
 a first container including a culture medium and the holder, the cell structure being immersed in the culture medium; 
 a second container including a medical agent; 
 a first tube which links the first container and the second container liquidtightly; 
 a pump which is disposed over the first tube and causes liquid to flow into the first container from the second container; and 
 a load cell linked to the holder and configured to measure a tension of the cell structure including muscle cells, 
 wherein the first tube is connected to a lateral surface of the first container at a position entirely immersed in the culture medium, and 
 wherein the first tube is connected to the first container at a position that is offset from a center line when the first container is seen from above in a vertical direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The tension measuring device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second tube which links the first container and the second container liquidtightly. 
     
     
       3. A tension measuring device, comprising:
 a holder that holds a cell structure including muscle cells; 
 a first container including a culture medium and the holder, the cell structure being immersed in the culture medium; 
 a second container including a medical agent; 
 a first tube which links the first container and the second container liquidtightly; 
 a pump which is disposed over the first tube and causes liquid to flow into the first container from the second container; and 
 a load cell linked to the holder and configured to measure a tension of the cell structure including muscle cells, 
 wherein the first tube is connected to a lateral surface of the first container, 
 wherein the first tube is connected to the first container at a position that is offset from a center line when the first container is seen from above in a vertical direction, 
 wherein the first tube branches into plural tubes in a vertical direction at a position where the first tube is connected to the first container. 
 
     
     
       4. The tension measuring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second container is smaller in surface area than the first container. 
     
     
       5. The tension measuring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second container is marked with a scale which indicates a residual amount of liquid. 
     
     
       6. The tension measuring device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second tube which is connected to the second container and serves to discard a liquid existing in the second container. 
     
     
       7. A tension measuring device, comprising:
 a holder that holds a cell structure including muscle cells; 
 a first container including a culture medium and the holder, the cell structure being immersed in the culture medium; 
 a second container including a medical agent; 
 a first tube which links the first container and the second container liquidtightly; 
 a pump which is disposed over the first tube and causes liquid to flow into the first container from the second container; 
 a load cell linked to the holder and configured to measure a tension of the cell structure including muscle cells; 
 a second tube which links the first container and the second container liquidtightly; and 
 an inflow pump which is disposed over the second tube and causes liquid to flow into the second container from the first container, 
 wherein the first tube is connected to a lateral surface of the first container, and 
 wherein the first tube is connected to the first container at a position that is offset from a center line when the first container is seen from above in a vertical direction. 
 
     
     
       8. The tension measuring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a tube pump disposed over the first tube. 
     
     
       9. The tension measuring device of  claim 1 , wherein the cell structure including muscle cells comprises a sheet cell structure, a rod cell structure, or a string cell structure. 
     
     
       10. The tension measuring device of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is fixed to a lid of the first container, and
 the lateral surface of the first container is different from the lid of the first container. 
 
     
     
       11. The tension measuring device of  claim 10 , wherein the first tube is connected directly to the lateral surface of the first container.